Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrai9101882roya).pdf/335

 LANDING OF RAFFLES IN SINGAPORE.

The following account of the first landing of Sir in Singapore may not be without interest to the readers of this Journal for two reasons: first as being the statement of one who is now probably the only survivor of those present on the occasion, and who is certainly the oldest inhabitant of the island who was himself an eye-witness of the proceedings; and, secondly, as going to prove how unreliable is the detailed account, given in the "Hikâiat Abdullah," from what  was told a few months afterwards. The short summary in Mr. 's work is apparently much more correct. It is a pity that no authoritative record exists of all the circumstances attending Singapore's foundation, in Sir ' Life or elsewhere. That given in the Journal of Eastern Asia (1875) is obviously incorrect.

, now residing in Tĕluk Saga, of the Kĕlâmang tribe of "Orang laut," was, according to his own account, about fifteen years old when Sir landed, so he must be about eighty years old at the present time. He is still an intelligent old man. His statement is as follows:—"At the time when Tuan came, there were under one hundred small houses and huts at the mouth of the river [Singapore]; but the Raja's house was the only large one, and it stood back from the river, between the sea and the river, near the obelisk. About thirty families of 'Orang laut' also lived in boats (dia punya rumah ada prahu) a little way up the Singapore river at the wide part (laut ofis). About half the 'Orang laut' lived ashore and half in boats. My sister still lives in a boat there, and has never lived asbore. The place where the 'Orang Laut' lived was called Kampong Témĕnggong, and it faced the river. There were a few Malays who lived near, their huts facing the sea. Our boat lay where the Master Attendant's Office now is. I myself was born in the Singapore waters, and this settle-